IVF / ICSI January 2024

[VenusStarr]

Hi, is anyone due to start IVF / ICSI in January? We're going to do a 3 cycle package. I was hoping to start in December but hadn't realised Christmas closing would be so early! My clinic won't start fresh cycles after 30 November - my af is due any day now.

Got my protocol consultation next week, we've been doing lots of tests and my baseline scan. My husband was very sick earlier the year and we've now got MFI (low motility) and borderline sperm dna fragmentation. I've had recurrent miscarriages, combination of natural and ivf pregnancies, low amh, fibroids, adenomyosis... I've got immune issues so will be on extensive meds when we get to transfer. Trying to bank some embryos as this is our last go 🙏

Trying to see the wait as a positive to give us time to get the supplements in our system and eat well.

If anyone fancies joining me on the wait, please do 🙂

Please can I just jump in and ask a question!

I have my first appointment next week at create, they have said they'll do a scan and we'll meet a consultant to discuss, bit of back ground, I'm about to turn 29 boyfriend is 31, I have irregular cycles (31-42 days) but I do ovulate, no diagnosis although PCOS has been mentioned, boyfriend SA came back 2mil count and low morphology so guessing we'll be going for ICSI. How long after initial appointments do you find out when you'll start treatment? I know everyone will be different but just want to get an idea :)

Thanks @VenusStarr Oh no! The few days before at the worst! lots of chocolate, it is not a time to be good!!

Thank you for the info. No I’ve not done a test. We had three negative transfers so cannot stomach the thought of testing again and seeing one line, even though it would be expected in this case. Husband is not keen either. I am due back at clinic tomorrow for an AMH so I may book a beta too. An expensive way to do things but the least impactful emotionally. I am doing ok thanks. Hope you are too? Not long to go now for any of us!!

@Eggbert83 ive had 3 miscarriages after transfer. The first one only biochemical and think my cycle was 5 wks after (normal length for me). The next one was at 6.5 weeks and took 6/7 wks and my last one at 8 wks it’s took 8 wks for my period to arrive! Seems to be quite variable, definitely check that you have negative tests ie no pregnancy tissue left. I hope it arrives soon xx

@waitingforourmiracle I'm with Create. Usually it's quite quick once you've gad your scan and protocol to start treatment (mine is taking a bit longer) they're shutting down over Christmas so you should be on track for a new year cycle.

There's a couple of people leaving at working and it keeps setting me off and im not rven that close with them! @Eggbert83 I'm with you on the testing, I absolutely hate it! That seems sensible if you're going for bloods tomorrow ❤️ will your amh result influence your protocol? Not long at all 😬

@Ellenn I'm sorry for your losses, I've had multiple and its really tough xx

Just had a call from a lovely nurse at Guy’s scheduling medication delivery and booking in the first scan/appointment to take us through how to do the injections.

From all dates set out it’s looking like EC between 12-15 Jan (all being well!). I’m pretty much like clockwork so first scan will be 2nd Jan - nice way to start the new year!

@LouP87 I also had my call today. I’m weirdly excited to start the year with treatment because I’m so hopeful it will work and will be a massive turning point. ❤️ Best of luck!

Also another early Jan start. Looking forward to it, mainly just to get started!

I also had my call from the Nurses at Guys for my medication! Egg collection set week commencing 15 Jan all being being well.

@LouP87 how have you found Guys so far?

Must've been admin day at Guy's! 😉 @Twomumfamily @LouP87 @Blossomofhope

I saw my doctor again today, I can start in my December period, should be just after Christmas. I am doing 3 cycles, but my doctor said he wants me to have a cycle off in between, so not looking at transfer for quite a while. X

Hi all :) my fresh transfer failed last week. Am very lucky to have one in the freezer so going to ask my clinic to go with my January cycle which should be around 16th January.

Hello, can I join this thread please? We have provisionally been given the date of January but as I am NHS funded I still have about a stone to lose to get to BMI of 30. Hospital have been flexible about it and have said just to ring as soon as I've lost the weight and we will start straight away. The consultant has recommended the Fast 800 diet which I'll give a go but looks tricky especially in the run up to Christmas but hopefully it will make it shed fast. We will be having ICSI. The consultant has said there is a national shortage of the daily down regulation injections so I will be given one injection that will last me four weeks, then I will have another one of those injections while I start the follicle stimulating injections. Does this sound like short protocol? Is anyone else doing the just one injection for down regulation?

Also I have been told by the staff at the hospital not to Google and not to go in to forums but I just can't help myself lol

@Hopingforno2in2024 I'm sorry about your recent cycle ❤️

@thirtyandmore we're private but my doctor yesterday said what's your bmi now and I said about 28/29 and he said yes that's what we've got... that's gone up! Yeh, thanks for that. He said you could try and get that down before you start and I just looked at him. So we moved on, I just need to be on 5mg folic acid because its higher.
What have you been doing so far diet and exercise wise? I wouldn't do anything extreme but maybe try to up your protein and veg. I can't see gow massively restricting calories will be that healthy and sounds miserable, especially this time of year.
I've only done short protocol, so not sure about the injection, is it prostap? X

@VenusStarr

I have been doing WW and lost a stone and a half but my weight loss is stalling which is why I think he suggested it to kick start weight loss. Might swap to SW as think that might just do the same thing? I do go to the gym but only around once a week so I have booked in for three Zumba sessions this week lol

@VenusStarr

Not sure what the injection is called, don't think he mentioned it, but he might have. It was a bit of an information overload!

I love zumba @thirtyandmore will miss it during stims. I've done slimming world before and I did get a stone off so might be worth a try. We did it over Christmas one year and it was ok.
It is a lot to take on x

@Hopingforno2in2024 sorry to hear your transfer failed! But with frozen transfers there seems to be alot better success rate so fingers crossed for you hun 🤞🤞

Hi all

thanks to all those who advised of period times after miscarriage, can’t recall who to tag and its action stations here today as my in laws are coming! I feel it may be on its way as I had an absolute melt down last night at none of my clothes fit anymore, said I wish we’d never started ivf, and sent my husband off to the spare room for an hour before I went and got him!!!

I am also trying to lose weight. I seem to put on about 3kg with every cycle then lose 1.5-2 after and then rinse and repeat. And at 40 it’s harder and harder to lose. I’m currently bmi 28+ which is the heaviest I’ve been. I have a lot of weight on face and mid section, possibly as for the last two FETs I’ve been on steroids. I lost it all after first (failed FET) through doing keto but was really ill when I went back to carbs and that diet isn’t good long term in respect of getting the nutrients you need to nourish them eggies! My plan now is that I’ve calculated I generally eat about 1600 calories a day (on an average good day) so trying to stay off the treats and have a Garmin watch so ensure I reach at least 2000 calories burnt a day, am often doing more. I have found barre arm workout videos on YouTube to be excellent. I only use 1kg weights but can burn 100 cal in 10 mins! Have noticed it also really revves up calorie burn then for a good while after. Also very easy to fit into the day. Agree it is additionally difficult it being the time of year that it is :(

Hi all,
I am hoping to join if that’s ok? I’m 33, over 2 years TTC and it’s unexplained. One prior round of mild ivf in July this year where we transferred the only embryo we got but it unfortunately didn’t stick. We’re doing long protocol this time and I’m currently in downregulation.
Some familiar names here. @Ellenn fingers crossed this is your time 🤞🏻!

I’ve actually found them great to be honest. I had been worried after reading a lot of posts about bad admin, rude nurses etc. but my experience has been the opposite.

Everything has gone smoothly so far, both the doctors I’ve seen have been lovely, really personable and helpful. Nurses so far have just been on the phone and via email but again, very personable and keen to answer all my questions. It helps that everything has happened well before the predicted time frame I think. How has your experience been so far?

@LouP87 Ah that's good, glad you have had a good experience so far. I've found them to be lovely too, I struggle to get through on the phone but that was the same when I was having private treatment there - so I just email. I was also worried having read the reviews!!
The only thing I am a little worried about is that there are no scans until day 10 (around day 7 of stims) and from what I have looked up other clinics have 2 or 3 scans during that time, hopefully it won't make any difference though.

Morning all. Hope everyone is well?

Just left an answerphone message with my clinic to get the ball rolling on a FET.

Clinic just called. We have an appointment on 12th December to do all the paperwork and then will get going late Jan/early Feb

Hello everyone.

We’re looking at a FET in January so I’d like to join.

Brief history:
TTC 4.5 years for first. Officially unexplained, but likely DNA frag issue and my eggs don’t seem to fertilise very well at all.

I started my first round of IVF (ICSI) this time last year. Very long downreg with collection and transfer in January 2023. 8 eggs collected, 6 mature, 2 fertilised- only 1 viable and BFN. That was NHS.

Second round July 2023. 8 eggs collected, all mature. Changed things up, short protocol, change of meds, duel trigger, AOA and Zymot. 4 fertilised. Fresh was BFN. We had two frozen.

First FET in October. BFN. Medicated FET.

Looking at doing a natural transfer in Jan as I really didn’t agree with the oestrogen at all.

I’ve got to track ovulation this month to confirm I’m ovulating. Also have to arrange Antinuclear antibody test which might change my protocol if it comes back positive.

Good luck everyone!

Hi @Lauralozzle, keeping everything crossed for you.

That's good news @Hopingforno2in2024

Hi @Lauralozzle welcome. I had issues with estrogen last year trying to transfer my final embryo and has to do a low dose stim to get my lining to respond which worked but them my embryo deteriorated 🫠 so it was a bfn. Hope the change in protocol works for you.
I have positive ana antibodies and nk cell issues, so will have immune support when we eventually transfer.

Good news, I got a cancellation for my nurse consult, so hopefully things will get moving and I can get my meds in the fridge ready for the end of December 🙏